Lock



' Oct. 5, 1937. R SEGAL 2,094,755

LOCK

Filed May 10, l935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VENT 0R firm/v 6. 556,41.

BY M w 54 ATTORIYW H. R. SEGAL LOCK Filed May 10, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR BY HYMANgSEGAL. WWW 9 W ATTORNE Patented Oct. 5, 1937 rim-re STATES OFFICE 16 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in looks, and particularly to keyless or permutation type lock mechanisms for use in padlocks and built-in locks on buildings, filing cabinets, safe deposit bcxes, hand bags, brief cases, and the like. Also,

it relates to an improved padlock structure capable of general use.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a permutation type lock which is smaller, and which lends itself to greater compactness, than those heretofore proposed so that it may be used advantageously on very small articles by being smaller and lighter in weight, and better in general appearance than previous proposals, but which, despite its smaller general size, will not require smaller operating parts and consequently will not inconvenience the operator in the manipulation thereof.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a permutation type lock with controlling elements structurally devised and arranged to be sturdier and consequently less liable to breakage and failure than those heretofore proposed.

A still fruther object of the present invention is the provision of a'permutation type lock having comparatively few and inexpensive parts, and which can, in its entirety, bemade very economically.

A considerable problem is encountered very often when trying to align the loose shackle of a padlock with the staple on a garage door or the like. It is a particular object of the present invention to provide an improved padlock obviating this fault. To this end the present invention provides a structure predeterminedly stopping the shackle in the best staple hooking and. unhooking position.

Further, it also provides a novel structure for controlling or positively aligning the lock and shackle with the staple. These structural features are a real advantage on dark nights and in cold weather. A complementary feature is the provision of a padlock body which may 'be'gripp'ed and handled advantageously.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a permutation type lock structure in which the parts are maintained in close operating relationship in final assembly, although made only within ordinary manufacturing limits, in order to prevent a thief from finding'the combination by trial and sound, as is possible when there is a difference in the cooperating relationship of the various parts.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a keyless or permutationtypelock embodying an improved simple and effective structure in which the combination for opening the lock may be changed readily without the use of a screw driver or other tool.

Another feature is the provision of a keyless type lock mechanism having a plurality. of'lock controlling elements so constructed that the elements still in looking position cooperate to prevent finding the combination, while other ele- I ments are in releasing position.

A further feature is the provision of an improved casing which may be made as a die-casting having substantially integral bearings for an operating shaft, and which may be so arranged that a cover or shell may be easily secured thereon to complete the look after the main operating parts are assembled.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide a padlock which may be taken apart for cleaning, oiling, and adjustments, when it is'in open condition or when one has the combination, but which is effectively locked against such change when in the closed condition. Tothis end, and in the present preferred form, the invention provides a two part body held together by means which are accessible when the shackle is open but which aresealed by the shackle when the latter is in the closed position.

Other features and advantages will appear hereinafter.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the lock, showing the shackle as it hooks upon a staple.

Fig.2 is a front View of the lock shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken 'on line 4-4 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a detail of the main body with the shackle and conditioning mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a detail of the main body itself.

Fig. 7 is a bottom view of the main body shown in'Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a top view of the cover.

Fig. 9 is a front view of the cover.

Fig. 10 is a front view of the completlock/similar to Fig. 2, but with a slightly difierent dialing mechanism.

Fig. 11 is a front view of a look similar to the lock shown in Figs. 1 and2 but with a key condi= r tioning mechanism.

- Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken on line l'Z-l Z in Fig. 11 V i Fig. 13 is a detail view of the main body with a shackle and conditioning mechanism.

7 the parts made solid so that the combination cannot be changed after the lock is once assembled,

Fig. 20 is a sectional View taken on line FF in Fig. 17.

Referring first in detail to the simplest form of the invention, shown in Figs. 15 through 20,

a very sturdy and economical type of permutation or keyless lock structure is disclosed, applied to a padlock, comprising a casing 85 supporting a locking member 8'6 in the form of a shackle with a long leg 91 and a short leg 98, having an effective locking position relative to the casing, as shown in Fig. 17, and an ineffective position shown in Fig. 18 wherein the shackle may be rotated in the casing in order to hook over a staple on the door or article to be locked;

A slide 89 associated with the locking member 86 as by a finger 99 curled in an aperture 9? on the long leg 87, and associated with the casing for sliding movement preferably through elongated slots 99 and shoulder studs 9| serves to limit movement of the locking member 96 into the effective and ineffective positions either through the studs 9| engaging the ends of the elongated apertures 99 or through the ends of the slide itself engaging the inside wall of the casing 85.

This slide 89 also cooperates with a novel form of conditioning mechanism 92 to hold the locking member 86 in the effective position and to release it for movement to the ineffective position upon predetermined setting. To this end, and as at present preferred, the slide 89 is pro-- vided with a central finger 93 adapted to enter a bore 94 of the conditioning mechanism 92. Preferably, this bore is formed at the inner end of an internal sleeve 95 and an external sleeve 96 which fit one within the other andpass through a suitable bearing in a face dial 9! that forms the cover to the casing 85.

The internal sleeve 95 is provided with a notch 95 at one point in its periphery, and the external sleeve 95 is provided with a single notch 96' at one point in'its periphery. The outside end of the internal sleeve is provided with an indicator plate 98 having a suitable pointer 98' or the like thereon, and the external sleeve is provided with a plate 99 having an indicating notch 99 or the like. As may best be seen in Figs. 16 and 20, frictional washers are provided between the face dial 9? and the plate 99, and between the latter and the underside of the plate 98 to frictionally hold the sleeves 95 and 96 rel-. ative to the casing 85.

As the pointer 98 and indicator 99' are moved into predetermined positions relative to indicia on the face dial 91, the notches 95' and 96 in the double sleeve may be aligned onerelative to the other and relative to the finger 93 so that it is possible to move the locking member-86 to the ineffective position as shown in Fig. 18. When the member 89 is moved into the closed position again, shown in Fig. 17, it is merely necessary for the user to move the indicator plates 98 and 99 in order to disalign the notches 95' and 96' relative to the finger 93, and thereby lock the structure again, since the bore 94 serves to hold the slide in the closed position.

Preferably, and as may best be seen in Figs. 16 and 20, the internal sleeve 95 is made somewhat shorter than the external sleeve 99 so that the bore 94 is stepped and the finger 93 is likewise stepped so as to form a ledge 93 riding on the inside face of the external sleeve 99. This arrangement is such that the one step on the finger riding on the inside wall of the sleeve prevents a person feeling the other step aligning with the notch in the other sleeve. Thus, it is essential that a person know the combination of the lock in order to open it.

It should also be noted that the external sleeve 99 is provided with a frictional connection I99, and the internal sleeve with a frictional connection I95 adapted to normally cause the plates 98 and 99 to remain properly aligned with the notches99 and 99", but permit relative shifting upon willful turning of the plates 98 and 99 when the finger 93 is in the notches, as shown in Fig. 18. Thus, it is possible to change the combination at will, by moving the pointer 98 and notch 99' to new indicia on the face dial 91 while the sleeves 95 and 96 are held against turning.

When it is desired to form the lock so that the combination cannot be changed any time after the lock is once manufactured, a solid connection I99 between the external sleeve and plate 99 and solid connection I94 between the dial plate 98 and internal sleeve 95 is provided, as shown in Fig. 19.

That form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 through 10 embodies the advantageous conditioning mechanism 92 already described in detail in connection with Figs. through with the operating parts, however, of smaller size. As shown in Fig. 10 it differs mainly in the provision of indicia 2i on the front face of a casing 22 ratherthan on a separate dial 91, and, as shown in Figs. 1 through 9, a marker 23 is provided on the casing 22 while indicia 24 are provided on the dial 99a. However, this form of the invention has several very novel features of construction over the first form and should therefore be particularly noted.

As at present preferred, this form of the invention differs from the form already described mainly in the provision of an improved connection between a shackle 25 and the conditioning mechanism 92 and in the provision of a very novel padlock casing 22 including a main body 29 of substantially inverted L shape including a front wall 21 adapted to' support the conditioning mechanism 92 of permutation type as is clearly apparent in Figs. 1 through 6 particularly. A top plate 28 section of the main body 26 is provided with a bearing aperture 29 adapted to support the novel shaped shackle 25 for both reciprocatory and rotary movement.

Instead of being supported for its main movement on the extreme side as is customary in practically all padlocks, the shackle 25 of the present invention is provided with a shank 25' mounted for reciprocatory and pivotal movement in a bearing aperture 29 in the middle of the top plate 28 and is provided with a normally free end 30 adapted to cooperate with a locking aperture 3I at one side of the top plate in order to take a locked position. At its lowermost end the shackle 25 is provided with a flattened side 32 having a stepped finger 33 adapted to slide vertically through notches and 96 in the sleeves 95 and 96 to be enclosed by the latter two and thereby lock the shackle in the effective position.

If preferred, the shackle 25 may also be provided with a lug 34 adapted to enter a slot 35 on the under side of the bearing for the aperture 29 immediately adjacent the top plate 28 to limit rotary movement of the shackle into both the effective and ineffective positions shown in Figs. 2 and 1 respectively, when the stepped finger 33 is out of the slots 95 and 96' of the sleeves 95 and 96. The shackle 25 may be moved only in a counter-clockwise direction from the effective position shown in Figs. 2 and 3 for a quarter turn, whereupon the lug 34 engages with the side wall .36 of the slot 35 in order to stop the shackle in the ineffective position shown in Figs. 1 and 5. When the shackle is returned the lug 34 engages the other side wall 37 of the slot 35 to align the free end 30 with the locking aperture 3|. The lug 34 thus also prevents the shackle from pulling out of the main body.

Accordingly, it will be seen that the present invention provides a main body 26 adapted to carry both the shackle 25 and the conditioning mechanism 92. This represents an advantageous structure, for all assembly work and fitting is on the one main part and there is a positive relation between all the operating parts at all times.

A cover 38 of novel construction is provided to enclose the operating parts and should therefore be particularly noted. It is of a substantially T-shaped form, as may be seen in Figs. 2 and 9, with an advantageous narrow main or finger gripping section 39 provided with a thumb notch 40 and a notch 4| for fingers below a top section 42.

The main section 39 has a main channel 43 adapted to receive the front plate 21 section of the main body 26 and having a bore 45 adapted to clear sleeves 95 and 96 of the conditioning.

mechanism 92. A vertical bore 46 is providedto clear the shackle 25 and the bearing 29 for the shackle bolt 25 in the top plate. A snug or force fit may be provided between the front plate 21 of the main body 26 and the channel 43 of the cover. A close cooperating fit between the top section 42 and the top plate 28 of the main body is also provided. These overlapping and interfitting members effectively form a seal for preventing tampering and for preventing water from getting into the inner operating parts.

A main body 26 and the cover 36 are connected together in a very complete manner by two looking screws 41 fitting into suitable counter-bored holes 48 in the top plate 28 and threaded into suitable holes 49 of the main section 39 as may be seen best in Figs. 1, 2, 6, and 9. Means are provided by the present invention to prevent surreptitious manipulation of these connecting screws.

In its present preferred form, the means provided to prevent surreptitious manipulation includes an offset 50 on the shackle bolt 25 adapted to swing over and down onto the top plate 28 in a position substantially overlying thescrews 4'! when the shackle is moved into the effective position shown in Figs. 2 and 3, whereupon it is positively impossible for a person to surreptitiously apply a screw driver to the screws. Therefore, the lock cannot be opened. However, the

person who has the proper combination to open the lock shackle 25 may easily and quickly disassemble the complete lock when it is desired to clean out the inside, make repairs, or to change the combination within the lock if'the conditioning mechanism is built up in such a manner that it can best be done with changes to the mechanism within the casing.

Another special advantage of the present form of the invention is the provision of a substantially concave side wall 5| providing a U-shaped guide channel in the outer face thereof which constitutes the back of thecover '38, and in the provision of a coextensive channel 5| in the body 26, conforming substantially with the general run of staples 52 which may be, as the one shown, of the conventional prong type, or of any other suitable type, for example of the type that is connected integrally or otherwise to a plate which is secured to a door, door frame, or the like. Such staples used in association with hasps are common expedients by means of which padlocks of this general type are usually put into use. This advantageous feature is best illustrated in Fig. 1 where it is clearly apparent how the concave side wall 5| in the cover and coextensive channel 5| in the main body cooperate with a staple in order to perfectly centralize or align the free end of the shackle 25 therewith.

The T-shaped casing 22 with the narrow finger gripping section 39, thumb notch 40 and finger notch 4| also facilitates aligning the concave wall 5| and shackle 25 with the staple 52. This is a real advantage on dark nights and where outdoor factors prevail.

The lug 34 engaging the side wall 360i the channel 35 also assists in this particular function for it serves to locate the free end 30 of the shackle 25 in the most open position relative to the channel 5|. When the free end 39 is aligned with the staple it is merely necessary to move or hook the shackle 25 down into the staple 52 and give it a quarter of aturn back into the operative position shown in Fig. 2 whereupon the free end may again enter the locking hole 3| and the stepped finger 33 passes through apertures 95' and 96 again to be enclosed by the sleeves 95 and 96. By turning either one or both of the sleeves by the associated knobs to any stations other than the unlocking station, the padlock is effectively sealed against opening by anyone who does not have the right combination.

Figs. 11, 12, and 13 show another modified padlook, very similar to the form just described, and differing mainly in the provision of a key type conditioning mechanism 52 fully supported on a front wall 21' of a main body 26'. A key 53 may be passed through a slot 54 to rotate into engagement with a detent 55 and move it out of a notch 56 so that a shackle 25' may be moved from the effective position shown to an ineffective position.

Lugs 51 and 58 are provided with notches 51 and 58' to pass predetermined keys 53. A lug 34' on the shackle 25' functions like the lug 34 on the form previously described. The detent 55 is pivoted on a pin 59 while a spring 63 urges it about the pivot to the pin 6|. A beveled finger 62 on the detent 55 may be pushed back by the bevel 63 at the end of the shackle as the latter is moved toward the effective position and snaps into'the notch 56 to lock it in this position.

This form of the invention is provided with a casing, 22' includingv a main body 26 and cover 33 connected with screws 41' and provided with a concave wall 5m similar to the casing22, thus havingthe assembly oiling and adjusting advan tages for the interior mechanism and the staple aligning advantages for the exterior, of the form of padlock shown in Figs. 1 through 10.

By merely omitting the pin 34 or 34' of those forms of the invention shown in Figs. 1 through 13 so that the lower end of the shackle 25 or 25' may slide into and out of the bore 29, it is possible to use these forms of look on a brief case, filing cabinet, or the like. For example, the shackle 25 can be secured to the flap of a brief case and the body 22 with the conditioning mechanism may be secured to the main section of the brief case, whereupon complete separation of these two parts occurs when the stepped finger 33 aligns with the slots and 96' and may be locked in the cooperating position when the sleeves 95 and 96 are turned.

Other variations and modifications may be made within the scope of this invention and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and for which it is desired to obtain Letters Patent is:

1. In a look the combination of a casing having a concave side wall providing a guide channel in the outer face thereof; and a shackle supported for reciprocatory and rotary movement in said casing and relative to the guide channel.

2. In a lock the combination of a casing with a central and a side aperture and having a concave side wall providing a guide channel in the outer face thereof; and a shackle supported for reciprocatory movement in said apertures and for rotary movement in the central aperture so that an end thereof may be moved from the side aperture to an open position relative to the concave side wall.

3. In a lock the combination of a casing with a central and a side aperture and a concave side wall providing a guide channel in the outer face thereof; a shackle supported for reciprocatory and rotary movement in said central aperture; and means for limiting rotary movement of said shackle to position the same relative to the concave side wall and to the side aperture.

4. In a keyless lock, the combination of a casing; a shackle slidable in said casing into locked and unlocked positions; a cover for said casing having indicia; an outer sleeve with a shorter inner sleeve rotatably supported therein and thereby to form a stepped bore, both sleeves being rotatably supported by said cover and each sleeve being provided with a small aperture; a slide within said casing and associated with said shackle; a finger on said slide normally enclosed by said plurality of sleeves and stepped bore; and indicators associated with said sleeves on the exterior side of the cover and cooperating with the indicia on the cover to align the apertures in the sleeves relative to each other and relative to the finger on the slide, to allow the finger to be moved from the enclosed position within the sleeves thereby permitting the associated shackle to be moved from the locked to the unlocked position.

5. In a keyless lock, the combination of a casing; a locking member movable relative to the casing into locked and unlocked positions; a stepped slide associated with the locking member; a pair of sleeves, one within the other, defining a stepped bore at the inner end thereof adapted to enclose said stepped slide and cooperate therewith to hold the associated locking member in the effective position, each of said sleeves having apertures therein'and being manually turnable in the casing; and selectively adjustable means for aligning the apertures in said stepped bore one with the other and with the stepped slide to permit the slide to be moved from the enclosed position and the associated shackle to be moved from the locked to the unlocked position.

6. In a permutation type lock, the combination of a casing having a front wall with indicia; a locking member having locked and unlocked positions; a slide associated with said locking member; a plurality of shafts one within the other rotatably mounted in the front wall of the casing; a plurality of sleeves at the inner ends of said shafts adapted to enclose said slide and hold the associated locking member in the locked position; a plurality of indicators on the outer ends of said shafts; and frictional means between said indicators and said front wall adapted to frictionally hold said shafts and associated parts relative to each other and relative to the indicia face on the front wall.

7. In a keyless lock, the combination of 2. casing having a front wall with indicia thereon; a locking member having locked and unlocked positions; a plurality of sleeves rotatably supported one within and by the other in said front wall and each provided with a small aperture; a slide within said casing and associated with said locking member; a finger on the slide normally enclosed by said sleeves; indicators associated with said sleeves cooperating with the indicia on the front wall to align the apertures in thesleeves one with the other and with the finger on the slide, to allow the finger to be moved from the enclosed position into a position within the apertures and allowing the locking member to be moved to unlocked position; and means adapted to permit relative movement between the indicators and the sleeves when said finger is in the sleeve apertures whereby the permutation combination may be changed.

8. In a padlock the combination of a casing with a central and side aperture and having a concave wall providing a guide channel in the outer face thereof adapted to receive the head of a staple; a thumb notch in the casing; a finger notch in the casing; a shackle supported for reciprooatory movement in said apertures and for rotary movement in the central aperture, said notches and concave wall cooperating to facilitate aligning the shackle with the staple.

9. In a keyless lock the combination of a casing; a shackle in said casing having a section exterior thereof and movable into locked and unlocked positions relative thereto; a stepped finger associated with said shackle; and an outer sleeve with a shorter inner sleeve rotatably supported therein and thereby, to form a stepped bore, and each sleeve being provided with only one small aperture adapted to pass the stepped finger and shackle to an unlocked position relative to the casing when in a predetermined position, and to maintain the stepped finger and the associated shackle in a locked position relative to the casing when in other positions.

10. In a keyless lock the combination of a casing; a shackle in said casing having a section exterior thereof and movable into locked and unlocked positions relative thereto; a locking mechanism; an outer sleeve with a shorter inner sleeve rotatably supported therein and thereby, to form a stepped bore, each sleeve being provided with a small aperture; and means associated with said shackle and stepped bore for locking and unlocking said shackle relative to the casing.

11. In a keyless lock the comb nation of a casing; a shackle in said casing having a section exterior thereof and movable into locked and unlocked positions relative thereto; a permutation mechanism; an outer sleeve with a shorter inner sleeve rotatably supported therein and thereby to form a stepped bore; and means associated with said shackle and stepped bore for locking and unlocking said shackle relative to the casing.

12. In a keyless lock the combination of a casing; a shackle in said casing; an outer sleeve with a shorter inner sleeve rotatably supported therein and thereby to form a stepped bore, each sleeve being provided with a small aperture; a stepped finger directly upon and integral with said shackle adapted to pass through said apertures and to be locked in a closed position solely by the sleeves.

13. In a lock the combination of a main body; a locking mechanism carried fully by the main body; a shackle carried fully by the main body; a cover movable into a position on the main body to enclose the locking mechanism, and completely removable therefrom, while the shackle and locking mechanism are carried by the main body; means for connecting said body and cover; and means on said shackle adapted to completely cover the connecting means when the shackle is in a locked position relative to the main body.

14;. In a lock the combination of a main body; a locking mechanism carried fully by the main body; a shackle carried fully by the main body; a cover movable into a position on the main body to enclose the locking mechanism, and completely removable therefrom while the shackle and looking mechanism are carried by the main body; means for connecting said body and cover; and means on said shackle adapted to prevent manipulation of the connecting means when the shackle is in a locked position relative to the main body.

15. In a keyless lock the combination of a main body; a locking mechanism carried completely by the main body; an 6uter sleeve with a shorter inner sleeve rotatably supported therein and thereby, defining a stepped bore, each sleeve being provided with a small aperture; a shackle carried completely by the main body; a stepped finger on the shackle; a cover movable into position on the main body to enclose the locking mechanism, and completely removable therefrom while the shackle and locking mechanism are carried by the main body; means for connecting said body and cover; and means on said shackle adapted to completely cover the connecting means when the shackle is in a locked position relative to the main body.

16. In a keyless lock the combination of a main body; a locking mechanism; an outer sleeve with a shorter inner sleeve rotatably supported therein and thereby, to form a stepped bore, each sleeve being provided with a small aperture; a shackle; a stepped finger on the shackle adapted to pass through said apertures and to be locked in a closed position by said sleeve; a cover; means to secure the cover to the main body; and means on the shackle adapted to render the first means inaccessible when the shackle is in a locked position relative to the main body.

7 I-IYMAN R. SEGAL. 

